TY - JOUR
T1 - Social Stigma and Vulnerabilities of Women Living With HIV/AIDS in Kyrgyzstan
T2 - Service Providers’ Perspectives
AU - Childress, Saltanat
AU - Shrestha, Nibedita
AU - Kreniske, Philip
AU - Small, Eusebius
AU - Gilbert, Louisa
AU - Mukambetov, Aibek
AU - Ssewamala, Fred
AU - Sensoy Bahar, Ozge
AU - McKay, Mary
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© The Author(s) 2024.
PY - 2024
Y1 - 2024
N2 - In Kyrgyzstan, registered HIV cases doubled from 2013 to 2019, with women constituting 39% of cases in 2021. Women living with HIV (WLHIV) encounter heightened intimate partner violence, stigma, and discrimination. This study explores the experiences and vulnerabilities of WLHIV in Kyrgyzstan from the perspective of professionals engaged in HIV care and advocacy. Data from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 10 professionals engaged in HIV prevention were analyzed using grounded theory methods. The analysis revealed two primary categories related to the experiences of WLHIV as observed by professionals in the field: (a) Challenges faced by WLHIV at the personal, interpersonal, community, and institutional levels, and (b) The way forward—providers’ ideas about addressing stigma and vulnerability. Urgent action is needed to address the needs of WLHIV, emphasizing confidentiality and support, recognizing discrimination as violence, and fostering financial independence.
AB - In Kyrgyzstan, registered HIV cases doubled from 2013 to 2019, with women constituting 39% of cases in 2021. Women living with HIV (WLHIV) encounter heightened intimate partner violence, stigma, and discrimination. This study explores the experiences and vulnerabilities of WLHIV in Kyrgyzstan from the perspective of professionals engaged in HIV care and advocacy. Data from in-depth, semi-structured interviews with 10 professionals engaged in HIV prevention were analyzed using grounded theory methods. The analysis revealed two primary categories related to the experiences of WLHIV as observed by professionals in the field: (a) Challenges faced by WLHIV at the personal, interpersonal, community, and institutional levels, and (b) The way forward—providers’ ideas about addressing stigma and vulnerability. Urgent action is needed to address the needs of WLHIV, emphasizing confidentiality and support, recognizing discrimination as violence, and fostering financial independence.
KW - Kyrgyzstan
KW - prevention
KW - social stigma
KW - vulnerabilities
KW - women living with HIV/AIDS
UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85207508911
U2 - 10.1177/10443894241272203
DO - 10.1177/10443894241272203
M3 - Article
C2 - 41049550
AN - SCOPUS:85207508911
SN - 1044-3894
JO - Families in Society
JF - Families in Society
ER -